2025 NFL Draft Odds: Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Cam Ward the Favorites To Go No. 1
While it's still months until April, the NFL draft odds are taking shape as the college football season comes to an end.
Colorado's pair of superstars top the board with Shedeur Sanders (-125) and Travis Hunter (+170) being the two biggest favorites to be the No. 1 pick in Green Bay on April 24. Miami's Cam Ward (+750) is the only other player shorter than 22/1, but there's still plenty of time for things to change.
With so many of the NFL draft odds favorites set to play in the College Football Playoff, big performances could seriously impact the board.
2025 NFL Draft odds: First overall pick
2025 NFL Draft odds from our best sports betting apps; last updated Dec. 4 and subject to change.
| Player | Odds (FanDuel) | Implied probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shedeur Sanders | -125 | 55.56% | $8 |
| Travis Hunter | +170 | 37.04% | $17 |
| Cam Ward | +750 | 11.76% | $75 |
| Jalen Milroe | +2200 | 4.35% | $220 |
| Abdul Carter | +3100 | 3.13% | $310 |
| Mykel Williams | +3100 | 3.13% | $310 |
| Will Campbell | +3700 | 2.63% | $370 |
| Mason Graham | +3700 | 2.63% | $370 |
| Nic Scourton | +4200 | 2.33% | $420 |
| James Pearce Jr. | +4200 | 2.33% | $420 |
- Shedeur Sanders (-125): With odds no longer than +140 at our NFL betting sites, Sanders is the consensus favorite to be the No. 1 pick
- Travis Hunter (+170): The Heisman Trophy odds favorite for the last few weeks, Hunter's rare ability at both wide receiver and cornerback is the reason many draftniks view him as the best player in the class
- Cam Ward (+750): Between his arm talent and dominance at Miami this season, Ward is considered the top QB prospect in the draft by some, but the Hurricanes' missing out on the College Football Playoff hurts
- Jalen Milroe (+2200): With Alabama climbing back up the College Football Playoff odds, Milroe has a chance to elevate his stock against premier teams in the CFP
- Abdul Carter (+3100): Penn State is a college football championship odds contender thanks to is defense, and Carter has the makeup of previous No. 1 picks at edge rusher
Who will go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Shedeur Sanders (-125)
It's no surprise to see Sanders as the favorite to go No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With him and his father, Deion, jumping from Jackson State to Colorado last year, there was plenty of buzz about the Buffaloes' investment in their football program.
Though Colorado ultimately fell flat down the stretch and missed a bowl game, Sanders was clearly not at fault. He showcased his efficiency and accuracy throughout the season, despite playing behind a shaky offensive line.
And it all seems to be coming together in the Sanders' second season in Boulder. The Buffaloes have been of the best teams in the Big 12 and Sanders is among the top quarterbacks in college football.
In his two seasons with Colorado, he's thrown for over 7,000 yards with more than 60 touchdowns and 45-plus big-time throws while putting together an adjusted completion rate above 80% and just 15 turnover-worthy plays, per PFF.
While many early mock drafts are already predicting the 22-year-old to be the top pick next April, I'd steer clear for now. These odds are far too short - paying a $14 profit on a $10 winning bet - in a class that's not considered to have an elite QB prospect.
It's important to remember that this is shaping up to be one of the weakest NFL draft classes in recent memory, which is why no player should have odds shorter than +300 to go No. 1.
Best odds: +140 via bet365 | Implied probability: 41.67%
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Travis Hunter (+170)
Hunter has absolutely lived up to the hype since being the the No. 1 player in the 2022 recruiting class. He's been so good that he would be a first-round pick as a full-time wide receiver or cornerback.
The question remains how teams will deploy him at the next level. The most likely scenario is that he'll be a full-time cornerback because it's a tougher position to find an elite player at, and it will allow him to still contribute as a wide receiver in specific packages.
Rare players like his head coach have done that in the NFL, but there's just no way he could be a full-time wide receiver who moonlights at cornerback. And it seems unrealistic that Hunter will be a full-time two-way player in the NFL, though he says he intends to play both ways in the pros.
So could he be the top pick? Absolutely, and I think he's a better bet than Sanders. Hunter is shaping up to be the top player on draftniks big boards and was recently ranked No. 1 as a cornerback by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, one of the most respected draft analysts in the business - Brugler also mocked him to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 1 pick.
With Hunter's rare fluidity, ball skills, and football IQ - on top of his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball - the likely Heisman winner looks like the best bet right now to go No. 1.
If Hunter is the top pick, a $10 bet pays a $30 profit at DraftKings.
Best odds: +300 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 25%
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Cam Ward (+750)
While Sanders is the more efficient and accurate passer, Ward is the quarterback who can throw the ball over them mountains like Uncle Rico.
He has all the physical skills that NFL front offices tend to fall for, and he's backed up the potential this season with Heisman-worthy numbers. And while Miami fell short of the College Football Playoff, he's hardly at fault.
However, there's still some concerns about his ability to play in structure and take what the defense is giving him instead of big play hunting. That style of always trying to extend the play and hit a home run has not worked in the NFL for a handful of recent first-round picks like Zach Wilson.
But just watch one game of Ward making heroic play after heroic play and it's not hard to picture a QB-needy team falling in love with what he could be, especially given his background.
Ward was a Wing-T QB in high school and his only scholarship offer was to Incarnate Word, an FCS program in Texas. After lighting it up there, he went to Washington State and became one of the most exciting passers in the sport before leading Miami to just its second double-digit win season in the last two decades.
He's gotten better every season and that development and upside could convince a team to take him with the top pick. But while a $10 winning bet on him to go No. 1 pays a $80 profit, I'm skeptical that he'll go that high.
Best odds: +800 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 11.11%
My first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to watch
Abdul Carter (+3100)
There are several defensive prospects who could make a push to go No. 1 if the QB class ends up falling short. Hunter is among them at cornerback, but since 2014 the only non-QBs to be the top pick were JD Clowney, Myles Garrett, and Travon Walker ... all edge rushers.
With a loaded edge rusher class that includes Georgia's Mykel Williams and Tennessee's James Pearce Jr., Penn State's Abdul Carter has the most upside. Plus, this outlier price at DraftKings makes it so much sweeter with a $10 winning bet paying a $500 profit.
I'd expect this price to be closer to +1500 by the time the NFL draft cycle starts heating up in January because Carter is legit. He's drawn comparisons to former fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons with his freakish athleticism allowing him to rush the passer or play off-ball linebacker.
This season, Carter officially moved from full-time linebacker to edge rusher and it's paid off. He's top 15 in the country in pressures (45) and top 10 in pass rush win rate (21.2%). But he's been just as effective stopping the run - he's top 40 in run stops (20) among defensive linemen.
Carter is also poised to light up the NFL Scouting Combine, much like Walker did before he went No. 1. So I think it's worth backing both Hunter and Carter to be the top pick at this point with no clear QB1 in the draft.
Best odds: +5000 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 1.96%
2025 NFL Draft odds: Position of No. 1 overall pick
| Position | FanDuel |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | -210 |
| The field | +160 |
NFL franchises live and die by their quarterbacks. That's why a record-tying six QBs were taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, while quarterbacks have been selected first overall in eight of the last 10 draft classes, 2025 doesn't necessarily have an obvious top QB.
That's what makes this market so tough to bet into. Quarterbacks dominate the first overall pick, but neither Sanders nor Ward are viewed as that blue-chip top choice yet.
It makes it especially difficult to feel confident in the -210 odds when the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be loaded at other premium positions such as edge rusher and defensive tackle.
2025 NFL Draft odds over time
Odds via DraftKings.
| Player | Odds on April 28 | Aug. 1 | Dec. 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shedeur Sanders | +100 | +400 | +120 |
| Carson Beck | +300 | +425 | +5000 |
| Quinn Ewers | +300 | +950 | +3000 |
| Drew Allar | +850 | +2500 | +3500 |
| Jalen Milroe | +950 | +2000 | +1500 |
| Jaxson Dart | +1200 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Cameron Ward | +1500 | +2200 | +800 |
| Mykel Williams | +1500 | +1600 | +2500 |
| Patrick Payton | +1800 | +4000 | +8000 |
| Connor Weigman | +2000 | +3500 | +9000 |
| James Pearce Jr. | +2000 | +550 | +4000 |
| Will Campbell | +2500 | +2000 | +3500 |
| Harold Perkins Jr. | +2500 | +2200 | +10000 |
| Travis Hunter | +2500 | +2500 | +300 |
| Mason Graham | +2500 | +2500 | +3500 |
| Kelvin Banks Jr. | +3000 | +3000 | +3500 |
| JT Tuimoloau | +3500 | +3500 | +7500 |
| Will Johnson | +3500 | +4000 | +5000 |
| Abdul Carter | +4000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Deone Walker | +5000 | +5000 | +10000 |
Past NFL draft 1st overall picks
| Year | Pick | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Caleb Williams | QB | USC |
| 2023 | Bryce Young | QB | Alabama |
| 2022 | Travon Walker | DE | Georgia |
| 2021 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | Clemson |
| 2020 | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU |
| 2019 | Kyler Murray | QB | Oklahoma |
| 2018 | Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma |
| 2017 | Myles Garrett | DE | Texas A&M |
| 2016 | Jared Goff | QB | California |
| 2015 | Jameis Winston | QB | Florida State |
| 2014 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina |
How to bet on the NFL draft
Betting on the NFL draft involves understanding the various types of wagers available and conducting thorough research on prospects and team needs. Start by familiarizing yourself with the different types of bets commonly offered, such as predicting which player will be selected first overall, the order in which players will be drafted, Over/Under bets on the draft position of specific players, and prop bets related to individual player performances or team selections.
Additionally, consider factors like team needs, draft strategies, and pre-draft rumors that could impact player selections. This early in the process, it's helpful to look at mock drafts from respected draftniks to get a better idea of which players are viewed as the top talents heading into the college football season.
How to read NFL draft odds
Odds are typically shown in formats like +300 or -150. Positive odds (e.g., +300) indicate how much profit you'd make on a $100 bet. For example, if a player has +300 odds to be the first overall pick, a $100 bet would win you $300, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $400. Negative odds (e.g., -150) show how much you need to bet to win $100. So, if a player has -150 odds, you'd need to bet $150 to win $100, plus your $150 stake, totaling $250.
These odds also reflect the implied probability of an event happening. Lower odds (e.g., +200) suggest a higher likelihood, while higher odds (e.g., +1000) indicate a lower likelihood. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on factors like player performance, team needs, and insider information that could affect draft decisions.
For example, if Beck is favored to be the first overall pick at -200, and Sanders is at +500, Bec is considered more likely to be selected first. Understanding these odds helps you make informed betting decisions and evaluate potential returns based on how the draft might play out.
2025 NFL Draft FAQs
Who is the favorite to go first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the favorite to go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. His shortest odds (+120) imply a 45.45% chance he'll be the top choice.
Who was the first overall pick this year?
The Chicago Bears selected former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, as was expected by the pre-draft odds.
When is the 2025 NFL Draft?
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft will be held on Thursday, April 24, and the event concludes on Saturday, April 26.
Where is the 2025 NFL Draft?
The 2025 NFL Draft will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc.
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